Methods for playing variations of the game of chess include a playing area
having 144 playing stations arranged in a 12 by 12 matrix. Two, three, or four
players can utilize the playing area to play a game of chess. The game may be played
using common chess pieces of a "phantom" player, wherein the real players take
turns moving the common chess pieces. In a preferred playing embodiment, when a
player is checkmated, all of the players chess pieces are removed from the playing
area. In another preferred embodiment, when a player is checkmated, only the checkmated
player's king is removed from the playing area, with all the other chess pieces
of the checkmated player remaining immobile on playing area. In another preferred
embodiment, one or more master pawns may replace conventional pawns. The master
pawns move diagonally and capture straight ahead.
